Respect Environment, Fight Hunger, Pope Urges
November 13, 2000 - 0:0
VATICAN CITY Pope John Paul said on Sunday that if humanity did not learn to reconcile technology with respect for nature, life on earth would become ever more dangerous.
The 80-year-old pope made his comments in a mass for tens of thousands of agricultural workers from around the world which was attended by the directors of Rome-based UN food agencies.
The traditional problems of agricultural workers had clearly been aggravated by man's disrespect for nature, uncontrolled industrialization, atmospheric pollution and environmental disorders, he said.
"If the world of refined technology is not reconciled with the simple language of nature to reach a healthy equilibrium, the life of man will run ever greater risks, of which we already are seeing worrying signs," he said.
The agricultural workers were in Rome to mark the Roman Catholic Church's holy year. The mass was attended by Jacques Diouf, director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP).
Speaking at a rally of agricultural workers on Saturday afternoon, the Pope said it was an intolerable scandal that millions of people were going hungry around the world and living in miserable conditions at the start of the third millennium.
He said the fight against hunger could not be limited to talk but needed more action.
"Today, all people have a right to live from the fruits of the earth. It is an intolerable scandal that at the start of the new millennium there are very many people who are still reduced to hunger and who live in conditions that are unworthy of man," he said.
"We can no longer limit ourselves to academic reflection. We must erase this shame from humanity with appropriate political and economic choices on a planetary level," he said.
The Pope attacked what he called the "irrational consumerism" and "culture of waste" that had taken hold in developed countries.
Throughout the Roman Catholic Church's holy year for the millennium, which ends on January 6, the pope has urged rich nations to reduce or erase the debt of developing countries.
(Reuter)
The 80-year-old pope made his comments in a mass for tens of thousands of agricultural workers from around the world which was attended by the directors of Rome-based UN food agencies.
The traditional problems of agricultural workers had clearly been aggravated by man's disrespect for nature, uncontrolled industrialization, atmospheric pollution and environmental disorders, he said.
"If the world of refined technology is not reconciled with the simple language of nature to reach a healthy equilibrium, the life of man will run ever greater risks, of which we already are seeing worrying signs," he said.
The agricultural workers were in Rome to mark the Roman Catholic Church's holy year. The mass was attended by Jacques Diouf, director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP).
Speaking at a rally of agricultural workers on Saturday afternoon, the Pope said it was an intolerable scandal that millions of people were going hungry around the world and living in miserable conditions at the start of the third millennium.
He said the fight against hunger could not be limited to talk but needed more action.
"Today, all people have a right to live from the fruits of the earth. It is an intolerable scandal that at the start of the new millennium there are very many people who are still reduced to hunger and who live in conditions that are unworthy of man," he said.
"We can no longer limit ourselves to academic reflection. We must erase this shame from humanity with appropriate political and economic choices on a planetary level," he said.
The Pope attacked what he called the "irrational consumerism" and "culture of waste" that had taken hold in developed countries.
Throughout the Roman Catholic Church's holy year for the millennium, which ends on January 6, the pope has urged rich nations to reduce or erase the debt of developing countries.
(Reuter)